A snowstorm that forecasters warn could be the worst in more than four years has moved into Ontario and police are warning of treacherous driving conditions

The snowstorm created traffic havoc in the south end of the province Friday morning, with more than 275 accidents reported between midnight and 1 p.m., according to the Ontario Provincial Police. Reports of new crashes were coming in by the minute by mid-morning.

The storm had slowed down on its approach, meaning that people in the region should expect more sustained, though less intense amounts of snow. This also means that most of the snow that was expected through the early morning hours is now hit during the morning and afternoon.

When all is said and done, Environment Canada says the GTA and surrounding areas will likely be blanketted with up to 30cm of snow. 19cm of snow had fallen by 1:30 p.m. at Pearson Airport, making it the heaviest snowfall since early 2008.

“Snowfall rates of 2 to 4 centimetres per hour are possible during the heaviest snow, and if this occurs, near zero visibility in the heavy snow may be a significant issue to deal with,” the Environment Canada said in its warning.

The storm also created a long list of delays and cancellations Friday.

Almost 60% of the flights through Toronto’s Pearson Airport have been cancelled. Find specific flight cancellations here. Near to 900 flights have been cancelled at Canada’s largest airport. (For flight info for Billy Bishop city centre airport, go here.)

As of right now, there are no major TTC alerts except for minor diversions, although there have been some slowdowns that are not appearing in the TTC alert system.TTC service alerts. All express busses have been converted to normal busses.

GO Transit is operating on an “Adjusted Winter Storm Schedule,” the biggest change will be that many express trains will be making more frequent stops. For full information go here.

Find out about road conditions here. The biggest trouble spots seem to be with the DVP and the Gardiner, which are both flowing traffic much more slowly than normal. Expect travel times up to four times longer than usual.

Senior climatologist David Phillips said there are rewards in store for Ontarians who weathered the storm. Friday’s snowy conditions are forecast to give way to sunny skies for the weekend, giving people a chance to take advantage of the new precipitation.

“We’re cursing it now, but we’ll bless it tomorrow when we have that sunshine,” Phillips said. “The beauty of it will be evident to us through Saturday and Sunday.”

Ontario’s storm is expected to pale in comparison to the one bearing down on the east coast, Phillips said. Quebec is expected to emerge comparatively unscathed, but parts of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland should brace for between 30 and 40 centimetres of snow and winds gusting up to 100 kilometres an hour, he said.

Atlantic Canadians can expect to start feeling the storm’s effects by Saturday.

Treacherous road conditions led to two deaths in Southern Ontario today as the worst storm in years hit the region. The first victim died in a multi-vehicle crash near Pickering, Ont., Friday morning. The second crashed in a one-vehicle accident farther east on Highway 401 near Prescott, Ont.

In the Toronto area, police report they’ve been called to over 500 calls to accidents, which includes approximately 300 collisions. CAA says it’s received 2,800 service calls today.

While the snow is beginning to taper off, roads in the region are still quite slick. Ontario Provincial Police advising drivers to “stay off the roads completely” if possible.

Meanwhile, in Hamilton, the city has declared a snow emergency and is telling people to move all cars away from snow routes.

Nearly half of the flights coming in and leaving Pearson International Airport were cancelled Friday — 370 departures and 429 arrivals. At Billy Bishop Airport downtown, Porter Airlines is advising all travellers to check the status of their flights before leaving home.

People walk west along York Mills toward the subway station at Yonge. Some buses have stopped short of taking people all the way to the station due to difficulties getting back up hills on their return trip along the route. That also means those looking to take certain buses heading east have had to start trekking up the hill in order to catch one.

People walk west along York Mills toward the subway station at Yonge. Some buses have stopped short of taking people all the way to the station due to difficulties getting back up hills on their return trip along the route. That also means those looking to take certain buses heading east have had to start trekking up the hill in order to catch one.

Many fewer problems on the roads around Toronto now than there were this morning, but there are still significant traffic headaches across the GTA. Snowplows are having trouble keeping up with the snowfall and conditions are still slick, creating a dangerous driving situation on the highways. The CAA has reportedly had 2,800 calls for service today.

Approximately 19cm of snow has fallen at Pearson Airport. The total amount of snow expected for the day is about 25-30cm. The last time Toronto had 19cm of snow was in early 2008.

356 Departures have been cancelled (about 50% of departures) and 357 Arrivals have been cancelled at Pearson International Airport (also about 50% of the flights).

Traffic is moving slowly across the GTA, with a few trouble spots, such as the intersection of York Mills and Yonge street, where busses are having trouble getting up the hill, and a disabled bus near St. Clair West Station. The DVP and the Gardiner are both very slippery and traffic is much slower than normal. Expect travel times up to three to five times longer than normal this evening. There are minor accidents across the city.

The OPP is telling drivers to stay off the roads, CityTV reports. The service has responded to 275 crashes since midnight.

Toronto EMS say that call volume is up about 30% due to weather related incidents, CP24 reports.

The City of Hamilton has declared a snow emergency and is telling people to move all cars away from snow routes.

The storm is moving east, and conditions are expected to worsen in Quebec and the Maritimes, as well as in the Northeastern United States. Ultimately Quebec will not be hit that hard, but parts of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, P.E.I. and Newfoundland should expect upwards of 30-40 cm of snow. The Northeastern U.S. could see from 60-90cm of snow.

Approximately 19cm of snow has fallen at Pearson Airport. The total amount of snow expected for the day is about 25-30cm. The last time Toronto had 19cm of snow was in early 2008.

356 Departures have been cancelled (about 50% of departures) and 357 Arrivals have been cancelled at Pearson International Airport (also about 50% of the flights).

Traffic is moving slowly across the GTA, with a few trouble spots, such as the intersection of York Mills and Yonge street, where busses are having trouble getting up the hill, and a disabled bus near St. Clair West Station. The DVP and the Gardiner are both very slippery and traffic is much slower than normal. Expect travel times up to three to five times longer than normal this evening. There are minor accidents across the city.

The OPP is telling drivers to stay off the roads, CityTV reports. The service has responded to 275 crashes since midnight.

Toronto EMS say that call volume is up about 30% due to weather related incidents, CP24 reports.

The City of Hamilton has declared a snow emergency and is telling people to move all cars away from snow routes.

The storm is moving east, and conditions are expected to worsen in Quebec and the Maritimes, as well as in the Northeastern United States. Ultimately Quebec will not be hit that hard, but parts of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, P.E.I. and Newfoundland should expect upwards of 30-40 cm of snow. The Northeastern U.S. could see from 60-90cm of snow.

Approximately 19cm of snow has fallen at Pearson Airport. The total amount of snow expected for the day is about 25-30cm. The last time Toronto had 19cm of snow was in early 2008.

356 Departures have been cancelled at Pearson International Airport (about 50% of departures)
357 Arrivals have been cancelled at Pearson (also about 50% of the flights)

Traffic is moving slowly across the GTA, with a few trouble spots, such as the intersection of York Mills and Yonge street, where busses are having trouble getting up the hill, and a disabled bus near St. Clair West Station. The DVP and the Gardiner are both very slippery and traffic is much slower than normal. Expect travel times up to three to five times longer than normal this evening. There are minor accidents across the city.

The OPP is telling drivers to stay off the roads, CityTV reports. The service has responded to 275 crashes since midnight.

Toronto EMS say that call volume is up about 30% due to weather related incidents, CP24 reports.

The City of Hamilton has declared a snow emergency and is telling people to move all cars away from snow routes.

The storm is moving east, and conditions are expected to worsen in Quebec and the Maritimes, as well as in the Northeastern United States. Ultimately Quebec will not be hit that hard, but parts of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, P.E.I. and Newfoundland should expect upwards of 30-40 cm of snow. The Northeastern U.S. could see from 60-90cm of snow.

So why are so many flights getting cancelled in the U.S.? In part it’s because the storm is likely going to be worse down there. But it’s also for public relations reasons: people are happier to be delayed a day if they get to stay home than 10 hours of being stuck in an airport.

So why are so many flights getting cancelled in the U.S.? In part it’s because the storm is likely going to be worse down there. But it’s also for public relations reasons: people are happier to be delayed a day if they get to stay home than 10 hours of being stuck in an airport.

From Environment Canada: Hazardous winter travelling conditions from near zero visibility, areas of heavy snow and local blowing snow are expected. Rapidly accumulating snow will also contribute to dangerous driving conditions. Travel plans should be changed accordingly.

Be safe this afternoon. Budget between four and five times normal travel time.

Environment Canada now reporting that snow will continue in the GTA through the evening and perhaps as late as midnight. Be prepared for conditions that are significantly worse on the trip home than they were on the way to work, as it has been snowing all day.

Another from David Phillips: Toronto shouldn’t complain too much. Phillips says parts of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland should brace for between 30 and 40 centimetres of snow and high winds gusting up to 100 kilometres an hour starting Saturday.

Report from Jason Rehel at the Southbound platform at Davisville subway station in Toronto: “Trains are backed up north and southbound but TTC making no announcements… Not a major delay yet though. Southbound yonge trains using west side of southbound platform. Workers on the scene working on the main southbound line.”

Heavy snow will spread quickly east during the day to affect Kingston through Brockville to Cornwall. Strong and gusty northeasterly winds will whip up the freshly fallen snow and result in very low visibility at times in blowing snow.

Total snowfall amounts of 15 to 25 centimetres are likely across the regions. Snowfall rates of 2 to 4 centimetres per hour are possible during the heaviest snow, and if this occurs, near zero visibility in the heavy snow may be a significant issue to deal with.

A look at the traffic picture around Toronto Friday morning. The summarize, if you’re travelling on Highway 400 in the 2 km stretch between Steeles and Highway 7, you’re good. Just about everywhere else, expect delays.

Schools across New England have closed and thousands of flights have been scratched as the Northeast hunkers down for a storm poised to dump up to 2 feet of snow.

The snow is expected to start Friday morning, with the heaviest amounts falling at night and into Saturday. Wind gusts could reach 75 mph. Widespread power failures were feared, along with flooding in coastal areas still recovering from Superstorm Sandy in October.

Canada isn’t the only place getting snow, it’s just starting to snow in New York City, where everyone’s waiting for “winter storm Nemo” The snow isn’t sticking to the ground yet and people are carrying around umbrellas. Photo from looking at Canal St and Lafayette/ Chinatown

Note: there seems to be some pranksters on twitter who are mocking up news alerts to make it seem as if the Toronto District School Board and Toronto Catholic School Boards have cancelled classes. As of right now no classes are cancelled at those two boards although busses are cancelled. We will update you if that changes. There are classes cancelled elsewhere in the GTA, see the list above for full details.

• The Toronto Catholic School Board and Toronto District School Board are open (with no bus service)
• Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board and the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board are closed.
• Durham Catholic School Board is closed, but the Durham District School Board is still open (with no bus service).
• The Halton Catholic District School Board and Halton District School Board are both closed.
• Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board and the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board are closed
• Peel District School Board is closed
• York Catholic School Board and York District School Board are open with no bus service

Early reports are that snow in the GTA and Southern Ontario will continue until early afternoon. Although there was less snow than expected during the night, that’s because the system is moving slower and the snow will arrive over a longer period of time. This may mean that the amount of snow overall may be larger than expected.